Summary: This volume looks at the role of universities in the National Innovation Systems in economies of the Asia Pacific. It examines the tremendous growth of human and knowledge capital made possible by teaching and research excellence in major universities, along with how universities are being re-positioned as frontiers of innovation in the National Systems of Innovation. The chapters assess the impact of globalisation and innovation together with the emergence of 'new' knowledge sites extended to the Asia Pacific region.

With contributions by experts and academics and key case studies, this book will be useful to scholars and researchers in higher education, development studies, public policy, economics, business and resource management, Asian studies as well as policymakers.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Professor Jennie Lang

1.Introduction: Three Missions of Universities and their Role in National Innovation Systems – Experiences from Asia-Pacific | V V Krishna

Japan, Australia and New Zealand

2. Changing University-Industry Links in the Japanese National Innovation System: Towards Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development | Fumi Kitagawa

3. Globalisation and the future of Australian universities | Sam Garrett-Jones and Tim Turpin

4. Changing role of research and Innovation in New Zealand Universities | Shantha Liyanage and Antonio Díaz Andrade

China and India: Emerging Economies

5. Research and Innovation in Chinese Universities | Weiping Wu

6. Indian Universities in the National Innovation System | V.V.Krishna and Swapan Kumar Patra

Abstract: Scientific publications and different types of collaboration pattern in pre-independent India are mapped using scientometrics and social network analysis tools. Publication data of Indian authors published before 1947 are downloaded from the Scopus database of Elsevier science. The study traces the literature growth patterns, core journals, productive authors, authorship collaboration patterns, productive institutions and their collaboration patterns. The result shows that maximum literature was published in the year 1936. The growth of publications during the mid-1930s was evident as many scientific institutions were established by that time. The subject-wise maximum activity was observed in chemistry followed by agricultural and biological science. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences was the most preferred journals. Universities played the prominent role in scientific research. Some private institutions with 'nationalistic' enthusiasm, for example, Indian Institute of Science and Indian Institute for Cultivation of Science were very productive institutions and also prominent in institutional collaboration. These institutions started in the colonial period continue to be the pillars of modern science in India.

Role of Innovation System in Development of Biotechnology in South Africa

Swapan Kumar Patra and Mammo Muchie

Asian Biotechnology and Development Review, 2017, 19(1), 3-30.

Abstract: South Africa is among the African countries that have taken initiatives to develop biotechnology industry to meet the persistent challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. This study analyse the Biotechnology Innovation System of South Africa using the three building blocks of sectoral system of innovation (SSI). It also benchmarks South African performance with that of other BRICS countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. Although the South African biotechnology market is quite small compared to other BRICS countries, its potential to grow is high. The scholarly publication patterns from the Medline database show that the knowledge base in this sector is small compared to other countries. However the South African scholarly papers are highly cited. This shows their relevance at the global level. The patent portfolio is also very small and limited to a few technological categories. The publication and patent portfolios show that university research output is not readily being translated into commercial products. Although there are many examples of university spinoff firms in biotechnology, findings from this study emphasis the need for a stronger university-industry relationship to encourage innovation for entrepreneurial start-ups.

Keywords: Biotechnology, South Africa, Sectoral System of Innovation, developing countries, Global South

Monday, July 24, 2017

UNESCO announces winners of 2017 International Research in the Life Sciences Prize

Paris, 24 July—The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has announced the laureates of the UNESCO–Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences for 2017.

The Prize-winners are:

Agricultural Research Organization (Volcani Center, Israel)

The institute has successfully developed cutting-edge innovations and methodologies in agricultural research with practical applications as well as capacity building programmes to promote food security in arid, semi-arid and desert environments, advancing human well-being.

Rui Luis GONçALVES dos REIS (University of Minho, Portugal)

For his outstanding innovative contributions to the development and engineering of natural-based biomaterials and their biomedical applications including tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, stem cells and drug delivery, which have a significant potential to improve human health.

For his seminal discoveries in elucidating the mechanisms of memory processes including consolidation and retrieval and their clinical applications in aging, psychological disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases leading to the promotion of the quality of human life.

Recommendations for the Prize-winners were made by an international jury of renowned experts in the life sciences, including:

Prof. Vincent Titanji, Honorary Dean and Former Vice-Chancellor, Biotechnology Unit, University of Buea, Cameroon; and

Prof. Pathmanathan Umaharan, Director, Cocoa Research Centre, University of the West Indies, Trinidad.

Each of the three laureates will receive a statue made by the artist Leandro Mbomio Nsue, a diploma and a cheque for $100,000. An award ceremony will take place at the Grand Hotel Djibloho, Djibloho (Equatorial Guinea) on 4 December 2017.

The UNESCO–Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences rewards the outstanding scientific research projects of individuals, institutions or other entities working in the life sciences that have led to an improvement in the quality of human life. This is the fourth time it has been awarded.

The terms "development" and "modernity" have been used widely and diversely during the past several decades, and continue to be evoked extensively in the present time. Development is projected as the path to modernity, a unique and inevitably desirable state for all human societies.

The closing date for the 2017 Wenhui Award, Innovations in the Professional Development of Teachers, is just a few days away. The Award this year seeks to recognize exemplary teachers’ professional development practices. This is a great opportunity to share and showcase efforts that have contributed to enhance teachers’ capacity and their teaching practices. Two individuals or institutions from the Asia and Pacific region will be selected by a jury of distinguished educators. The winners will each receive a Certificate of Excellence and prize money of US$ 20,000. Certificates of Merit may also be awarded to individuals or institutions that have demonstrated commendable innovative practices.

The Wenhui (文晖) Award for Educational Innovation, established by the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO, and coordinated by UNESCO Bangkok, aims to recognize the contributions of educators and institutions which have optimized the potential of education and the human innovative spirit to address and resolve pressing issues and problems facing our world today.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

The Secretariat of the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education has been informed that some Member States had difficulties accessing the online nomination platform established for the 2017 edition of the Prize. To respond to this concern, the deadline for nomination has been extended to 21 July.

Nominations should be submitted by Member States (via their National Commissions and Permanent Delegations) or NGOs and Foundations in official partnership with UNESCO in English or French by 21 July 2017 at the very latest (midnight, Paris time).

The nomination process takes place online via a platform accessible through the UNESCO website, available now through 21 July 2017, at the following internet link: http://unesco.org/gwe.

Monday, July 10, 2017

Just FYI - For those of you who are interested, The Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals (TAICEP) will host its annual conference in Rome, Italy from 5-7 September 2017. They would like to have colleagues from Asia-Pacific take part in the exchange and capacity building opportunity. The networking would focus on assessing foreign qualifications.

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Warm greetings from Bangkok – We are so pleased to share with you the outcomes from our consultations in Shenzhen for the Regional Conference on Quality Assurance of Higher education in Asia-Pacific (15-16 June in Shenzhen, P.R. China).

We are grateful to all our colleagues in Paris and throughout the Asia-Pacific region for collaborating with us to convene such an important gathering. Thanks to our generous hosts at the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO and UNESCO International Center for Higher Education Innovation (ICHEI), more than 100 guests from over 30 countries took part in this special conference. Through a pre-conference survey and two rounds of interactive consultations, we developed the “Shenzhen Statement” which we hope effectively captures the need to develop a “living culture focused on quality” in higher education in Asia-Pacific. It was a wonderful and collective writing experience.

Please take a look at the stunning keynotes and results of this collaborative approach:

As additional inputs or ideas come to mind, please don’t hesitate to contact me or our unit in higher education. We look forward to supporting preparations for the 2018 conference in Paris and to learning more about your needs throughout Asia and the Pacific.

Warm regards,

Libing

Libing Wang, PhD

Chief, Section for Educational Innovation and Skills Development (EISD)

Monday, July 3, 2017

The online course is offered through the University of Seychelles and available to learners globally.

The Commonwealth of Learning, in collaboration with the University of Seychelles' James Michel Blue Economy Research Institute, is offering a free online course on the Blue Economy. The course, titled "Understanding the Blue Economy," is aimed at individuals new to the concept and has six units:

Unit 1: The Blue Economy: An emerging concept

Unit 2: Ecosystem Services

Unit 3: Fisheries and Aquaculture

Unit 4: Emerging High Technology Sectors

Unit 5: Tourism

Unit 6: Maritime Transportation and Services

The course will focus on developing new and improved sustainable business models related to the use of coastal and ocean resources. It fits well with Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals which aspires to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.

The course is flexible, free and will be run by the University of Seychelles, starting on 10 July 2017. Depending on a learner's weekly commitment, they will be able to complete the course between 8 to 10 weeks.

Please contact John Lesperance at jlesperance@col.org and Eugenie Khani at Eugenie.Khani@unisey.ac.sc for registration with following details: 1. Name, 2. Surname, 3. Country of residence, 4. Institution/organisation, 5. Email address, 6. Phone number, 7. Gender, 8. Date of birth. The deadline for registration is 5 July 2017.

by BK Sen, Indian Journal of History of Science, 2017, 52(2), 197-219.

Abstract: British India gave birth to hundreds of scientific societies devoted to various sub-disciplines of science such as physics, chemistry and mathematics. However, some of them were devoted to science in general and played a significant role in science, society and scientific researches in India.Thirty three such societies are streamlined here with nature of foundation, objectives, publications and other details. The oldest of course is the Asiatic Society (1874) established in Kolkata and the latest being the Association of Scientific Workers of India (1947) inaugurated by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.They were established for popularization of science, promotion of science education, research, development of scientific terms in regional languages, translation of foreign scientific texts in Indic languages, and so on. Many of the societies perished for varied reasons. Some of them are existing till to date.

Borthakur, A. & Govind, M. (2017). How well are we managing E-waste in India: evidences from the city of Bangalore. Energy, Ecology and Environment, doi:10.1007/s40974-017-0060-0.

Abstract: As a toxic waste stream, E-waste poses serious challenges to the waste management initiatives in India. While the hazardous components of E-waste call for environment-friendly disposal mechanisms, the valuable and precious metal constituents necessitate adequate infrastructural provisions and responsible management programmes to avoid the loss of economically vital materials. Considering this duality, this paper is an attempt to evaluate the current E-waste disposal practices in India, particularly emphasizing on the city of Bangalore. Three sectors listed as 'bulk consumers' of electrical and electronic equipments under the recent E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016, namely (1) IT and electronics, (2) banking and (3) education, are considered for the study purpose. Our experience suggests that these bulk consumers adopt two different approaches to comply with the new EPR guidelines as enlisted in the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016. These are: (1) IT companies like Wipro adopts a 'take-back system' where it is responsible for taking back the products originally produced in its various facilities from the consumers; (2) most of the banks and educational institutes take 'auction' as the measure by calling tenders from authorized E-waste recyclers with some banks embracing an 'E-waste exchange system', or complying through producer responsibility organizations (PROs) for responsible E-waste management in the city. However, we sense a lack of meticulous initiatives towards addressing the E-waste crisis largely prevalent across these sectors. We argue that ensuring responsible disposal behaviour is central in any successful E-waste management initiative. Further, we emphasize on the relative disinterestedness of the research community in addressing the issues concerning E-waste in India by carrying out a detailed bibliometric analysis on the topic. We conclude that a transparent system across these diverse sectors with adequate infrastructural provisions and administrative controls is the key to address India's E-waste apprehensions.

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Abstract: The regulation of "biotechnology" seems to present legislative difficulties of another kind. The Government of India proposes to institute a biotechnology regulatory authority—the Human DNA Profiling Bill 2015—for the purpose of collating the DNA information of citizens so as to strengthen the criminal justice process and system. However, the regulation of such technology needs to be technologically neutral and requires safeguards against any information abuse and exploitation on the part of the "experts" and "specialists" appointed to the new regulatory institution governing biotechnology.